HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-28-22 Public Comment - S. Helfrich - Fraternity houses in residential neighborhoodsFrom:Sarah Helfrich
To:Agenda
Cc:Kathy Powell
Subject:Fraternity houses in residential neighborhoods
Date:Wednesday, December 28, 2022 2:54:09 PM
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What happened in 2018? Did the commission not think? Were they just so bent on being“inclusive” that they put another sword into the golden goose of Southside Bozeman.
It seems that to be progressive and politically correct the city commission approved a UDC
change that allows Fraternities and Sororities to occupy a house in any part of Bozeman. Gone are the R1 and R2 designations that protected neighborhoods. The phrase “group
living” came into the city vernacular and has allowed the over occupancy of one time singlefamily houses, and turned them into over occupied group living and party houses.
In the “new” UDC there is no mention of fraternity and sorority housing, nor restriction of
where such houses are allowed. Time is now to change the code back and reinstaterestrictions on such living and parting housing in residential neighborhoods.
Everyone knows that the city changes rules and allows variences without considering public
input. Nothing could have said it more blatantly than the Black Olive debacle. On top of not listening to residents there is zero to nil enforcement of regulations by the city.
Let’s look at the cars parked on streets for weeks on end; or possibly the plethora of illegalVRBO’s all over town.
The city should reinstate the code for fraternity and sorority housing back to the pre 2018
regulations. This would allow these houses in R5, R0, and conditionally in R3. This rethinkand change back could help save residential neighborhoods.
We must not let our City continue to change Bozeman for more tax dollars with fewer
services. The Golden Goose is soon to die at the hands of our elected leaders.
Sarah Helfrich
219 South Grand